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Barefoot In The Sand: Remembering the Waning Days of the Hopewell Community (1998) Bruce C. Gragg 53/123

Little Creek was an old wood frame unpainted, wood shingled building,
made with heart lumber that would have burned in just a short time if
it had caught fire. The lower grade classroom was larger with a
stage, this is where the school plays would be held. There was a
branch we had to cross after the bus let us off to get to school. At
this time, mid to late forties, we had a lot of rain, and this branch
was more like a fairly large creek. There was a foot bridge to walk
on, it was only about 8 inches wide, not very steady. We all usually
made it without falling off. During dryer times we could just step
across it. At Bay Creek and Little Creek Schools, we had "central
heat", a wood heater in the middle of the classroom and all classes
used it as the ’’central part of the classroom” to keep warm. I can
remember when it was mentioned that we would celebrate 200 years of
Independence in 197 6, how far off in the future that seemed, boy was
I wrong! Here it is now over twenty years after the celebration, and
I can't believe it has been that long already.

Until ’48 or’49 we used just plain kerosene lamps, then we bought a
couple Aladdin Lamps. What an improvement in light. Mama and her
siblings had studied by lamp and fireplace light for years before us,
and we did the same for a few years. When that lamp was lit it was
like the sun had come up again. We could really see how to read and
do homework, I’m not sure it helped my grades but it made it easier
to study. The main drawback was we had to be real careful with the
mantle, it would shatter so easily if you weren’t careful. When we
moved the Aladdin lamps just disappeared, the regular kerosene lamps
stayed around however.

Six of the eight years of my school life in north Columbia County,
one boy was always there. Monroe Hall, a nephew of Miss Helen,
academically a real smart student, his book learning came relatively
easy and he was a very likable boy. He got along with everyone real
easy, and a very quiet lad. He could learn very easily without all
the effort I had to put forth. Monroe was a good boy from a good
solid family. He had a brother Jimmy Carroll, he was a funny little
guy. I've not seen him now in many years, and the last I heard he is
now a Baptist Preacher, this does not surprise me, he was just that
kind of a youngster growing up. The last time I saw him was the
Summer of 1962, at Ft. Benning, I was walking down a hallway in the
Headquarters Building and looked up and there he was. We talked a few
minutes and. parted planning on getting together again. I was soon
released from the Army and we never got together. He is one of my old
grade school mates I would like to see again and talk over the old
days.

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